Elton John Versus Pnau - Sad

"I used to know this old scarecrow"

I don't generally post radio rips (which this is), but I'm so taken with this project that I can't help but get excited any time something new is released. I'm a big Elton John fan, and a big Pnau fan... so seeing the two combine in a dance/electronic/mash-up project is just really cool. Sad is what I assume will be the next single from the yet-to-be-released album, and it's more laid back and lyrical than their first. While it includes samples from Nice & Slow, Crazy Water, Curtains, Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word and Friends, it's likely the lyrical chunks of Curtains (some included above) that you'll recognize first. Luckily, Curtains just happens to be one of my favorite Elton album tracks. It's wonderful to hear it reinterpreted as a slightly jazzy, new age electronic piece. It has a very soothing feel to it, which honestly I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I am.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Milla Jovovich - Electric Sky

"You know I'll always wait for you"

Actors turned singers is always a dicey proposition, though it seems to be happening more often nowadays. But when I heard that Milla Jovovich was coming out with an EP of her own, I was definitely interested. Ever since I saw The Fifth Element when I was younger, I've been a big admirer of her work. To use a word that I absolutely hate, she's "fierce." In all the best ways. Luckily, her music's pretty good, too. She's adopted a Goldfrapp sound, circa 2005 when the band was at their sleekest and most popular. An electronic pulse sets off the track and from then on out it's a cool, smooth electro pop number. Not the kind of thing that's going to set the radio on fire, but something that's definitely credible and fits Jovovich's personality. I can't wait for the video! I hope this is the general direction she'll be going with the EP and eventual album.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Adventurous Adventures of One Direction

Just had to give this a quick extra post, as I expect it will blow up and be everywhere before too long. In short, this is surprisingly hilarious and extremely well done. It's a long way since UK X-Factor 2010, huh?

Don't let the long running time stop you from watching. The creator(s) of this need their own series on TV.

Scissor Sisters - Self Control

"It's hard to take it easy when you're unsatisfied"

Oh, man. I hate to even type this, but I'm just not feeling the new Scissor Sisters album. It's perfectly fine, sure, but even though I've listened to it at least five times now, I can easily say it's my least favorite--the least exciting--release they've recorded. I say this as a massive fan, an admirer of lead single Only The Horses, and an absolute lover of Let's Have A Kiki (which is by far the most memorable thing on the record). The rest, much like Adam Lambert's new one, is stuff that I'm desperately trying to connect to. I think one of the problems is that Night Work, their last album, was so so SO strong. Seriously, a masterpiece of the genre. With Magic Hour, it feels like they've taken a step back into a much more anonymous sound. I hear others talk about how the album is the weirdest the band's sounded since their demo debut, but I don't see it at all. Other than Kiki, there's nothing that comes even close to the wonderful weirdness of Electrobix, Bicycling with the Devil or even Making Ladies (b-side on their second album). What we get instead is something perfectly nice, but on the same hand... perfectly boring. One late album highlight is Self Control, which injects a welcome old-school dance vibe. Still, it's not as good as anything on the last album.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Loreen - Euphoria

"We're going up, up, up, up, up"

Just as short post today, as it's a holiday today in the US. Now, I've written about Loreen since February when Euphoria was first unleashed, but I think she deserves a celebration post since winning Eurovision last weekend. It was absolutely, 100% SO the right choice, and I think the song's excellent itunes chart placements around Europe prove it. This is a song that has the potential to crossover worldwide, and Eurovision was just the agent to do that. It's exciting, because it's been awhile since the competition has introduced an artist to the world stage that actually has the ability to stand up with what's on the radio. Could Loreen eventually see Abba or Celine Dion success? Probably not. It's a different world we live in, now. But I wish her the best because she's totally capable of it. Now get that long-delayed album out! September is WAY too long to wait. There won't be a better time to release it than now, and we all know it's complete and ready to go. These decisions by her management continue to baffle me. Oh, and for what it's worth... my top five entries in this year's competition (it was slim pickin's): 1. Sweden 2. Ireland 3. France 4. Turkey 5. Albania



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.